Ryan Meadows, a Hargrave High School graduate, performs with Drum Corps International’s Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as they travel the country and compete with other corps in the 2016 championships.

Ryan Meadows, a Hargrave High School graduate, performs with Drum Corps International’s Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as they travel the country and compete with other corps in the 2016 championships.

Image 2 of 5

Ryan Meadows and his team, the Bluecoats, pose at Disney World where they performed this summer.

Ryan Meadows and his team, the Bluecoats, pose at Disney World where they performed this summer.

Image 3 of 5

Ryan Meadows describes Drum Corps International as a “marching band on steroids,” because of the intensity of effort required to be a part of the corps.

Ryan Meadows describes Drum Corps International as a “marching band on steroids,” because of the intensity of effort required to be a part of the corps.

Image 4 of 5

Ryan Meadows and the Bluecoats have performed in stadiums and other venues across the nation this summer.

Ryan Meadows and the Bluecoats have performed in stadiums and other venues across the nation this summer.

Image 5 of 5

Hargrave grad chosen for one of nation’s top drum corps

1 / 5

Back to Gallery

Class of 2012 Hargrave High School graduate Ryan Meadows is traveling the nation this summer with some of the top marching musicians and performing at big name venues across the United States.

As a lifelong music enthusiast, pursuing a degree in music education at Stephen F. Austin State University was a natural progression for him.

“I’ve always been around music and I started playing trumpet in sixth grade and I’ve been doing that ever since,” Meadows said. “Now, I am almost done with my degree in music education.”

In August, Meadows was chosen to perform with Drum Corps International’s Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.

“There are 150 performers,” Meadows said. “We had about 1,000 people audition this year for 150 spots, so there is about a 10 percent acceptance rate. There are about 30 different corps in Drum Corps International and we all compete against each other.”

The Bluecoats finished in second place in 2014 and third place in 2015. This year, they hope to win their first world championship title.

Meadows describes the Drum Corps as “marching band on steroids.” He and his teammates will travel nearly 12,000 miles, rehearse 14 hours a day and perform approximate 35 shows over the course of the summer. So far, their travels have brought them to several major sports stadiums and even to Disney World.

The Bluecoats are scheduled to perform their program during the Tour of Champions performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. at The Berry Center in Houston on Friday, July 22.

Meadows feels his experience with The Bluecoats has been beneficial to his musical pursuits.

“I think as a performer I’ve become a lot more confident playing and marching,” Meadows said. “I’m surrounded by like-minded people that have given me a greater drive to be the best I can be. From an educational standpoint, I am getting to work with some of the best teachers in the country.”